The First Empress - Chapter 104

Chapter 104 It’s From The Painting
At first, he could not feel the chill, but in the past few days, the chill had thickened. In the morning, the curtain was rolled up and the frost was light, and he tried the plum makeup with his hands.

Under Qin’er’s service, Linglong put on her clothes, combed her plum makeup, and went back to the warmth pavilion. She did not expect Han Shanggong to be here so early. As she made the last hem of Linglong’s clothes, she smiled and said, “The Empress is overjoyed. Today, the autumn clothes will be ready.” When Linglong saw Han Shanggong smiling happily, she naturally put on a smile. “Thank you so much, Your Highness.”

“Qin’er, go to this palace’s dressing box and bring that silk-gathered golden phoenix over. It will be delivered to Maid Han later.” Linglong planned to bribe people. Maid Han had seen all kinds of gold, silver, and jewelry, but she had never seen a flying phoenix with such a good complexion and complicated workmanship. She had seen Linglong hairpin last time, so she wanted to borrow it back to take a look. She didn’t expect it to be given to her today.

After a while, the golden phoenix had already been sent over. Han Shanggong nodded gratefully. Linglong asked, “What are the colors of the clothes of the palace masters? What are the ornaments on their heads?”

Han Shanggong knew everything and said everything. Linglong secretly remembered that the last step of the dress was over. Han Shanggong bit off the last thread of golden thread with his teeth and said, “Now, you can put it under the incense stick and smoke the Empress to wear it.”

After saying the method, he left.

Linglong was happy just now. She could even say that her eyes were filled with anticipation and hope. But now, she felt that there was no more expectation. She hurriedly tossed her clothes to Qin’er. “Help me smoke this dress and use the incense of heavy water.”

Qin’er nodded and complied.

Recently, she had nothing to do, so Linglong often took her outside for a walk. Now that the autumn light was just right, Linglong walked outside.

After crossing the Spring Wave Bridge, Qin’er chased after him.

Panting, she stood beside Linglong. Linglong was surprised. She looked at Qin’er and said, “You’re here again. Who’s smoking your clothes?”

Qin’er stopped breathing and touched the sweat on her forehead. “The clothes are handed over to Red Lotus. This servant is worried about Master and Your Highness.”

“What’s there to worry about?” Linglong was a little embarrassed. “If other people wanted to kill me, I would have died long ago. Look at the beautiful women in those dry wells. What do they think? What do I think?”

‘”I know–” Qin’er was so anxious that she almost cried, “That’s why I came over to see some of the Empress …”

“Alright, alright, I’ll let you follow me.”

If Li Chongyuan hadn’t told the maidservant not to follow him back then, there wouldn’t have been such a miscarriage.

The two of them passed the spring ripple, There’s a painter up ahead, A little far away, Linglong’s eyes suddenly lit up. That red robe was clearly the clothes of the man on the cliff behind Baohua Temple. It was clearly a person. This person’s appearance slowly overlapped with the one in her memories. Even Qin’er cried out repeatedly, “Concubine, could that person be Mu Qianzhi?”

Linglong did not dare to say whether it was true or not. The two of them took three steps forward together. Because the painter was too focused, he was completely immersed in his own artistic creation. He did not raise his head. Linglong stood behind the easel and saw that the man’s ink hair was dancing in the wind. His agile wrists were also flying on the paper.

Linglong thought that he hadn’t discovered her, She was prepared to be lenient, but seeing the white and slender fingers holding the wolf hair on the paper, after a while, the master and servant had already jumped onto the paper. This time, they did not use charred ink, but chose color, so their figures and appearances looked very lively, almost lifelike.

Linglong looked at the white wrists flying on the paper and soon, the handwriting fell.

“Spring Breeze Green under the Bridge of Injury and Sadness was once attracted by Jing Hongzhao.”

Linglong was slightly surprised. Was this a love poem? Or do you just recall what it is?

Mu Qianzhi turned around and smiled back at Sheng Xinghua. “I really didn’t expect that the 28 beauties of the past were already Heavenly Clan wives. This painting should be given to the Empress as a greeting gift.” Qin’er hurriedly put away the painting. Linglong really didn’t expect that she would be embarrassed. She clearly had a lot to say just now, but now she came over. It was as if the two of them were truly separated by countless mountains and rivers. It was impossible to reach them.

Although the two of them were face-to-face and close at hand, there was already a gap between their identities.

Linglong stared blankly at Mu Qianzhi. She didn’t know what to say, but her lips were still trembling slightly.

Mu Qianzhi bowed a little. “It’s only recently that Qian Qian found out about the identity of the Empress. She doesn’t mind being rude, so she just accepted this one and a half bow,” Mu Qianzhi said.

Linglong’s trembling lips finally returned to normal. She smiled and said, “Four months apart, are you alright?”

Mu Qianzhi’s heart surged with a kind of primitive emotion as he approached Linglong. “It was three months and 29 days. In the middle of it, Qian did not recall the Empress’ soundness and smile at all times. However, he did not expect to see such a scene again. It really made Qian feel like a different world.” Linglong could hear the courtesy and alienation in Mu Qianzhi’s tone. She felt a little sad in her heart.

“I didn’t expect you to be a painter in the Imperial Palace.” Linglong said, “In the past, this palace thought that you were an outsider who didn’t eat humans, but I didn’t expect you to have such a high status.”

Mu Qianzhi’s eyes were like broken ice, “You didn’t ask Qian that day. Qian has always been a knowledgeable person.”

Linglong replied, “Then, Sir is wrong. On that day, Sir did not ask me about my identity, so I naturally know everything about it.”

Mu Qianzhi turned around and looked at Linglong. The reluctance and regret in his eyes deepened. “If Qian knew that the Empress was a woman from the Marquis Sect who was as deep as the sea, he would have brought her to that paradise that day.” The more Linglong listened, the more frightened she became. With a cold face, she said, “Impudent, this is the inner courtyard of the Imperial Palace. If you don’t want to die, I will still want to die.”

“Life?” Mu Qianzhi sneered. Yan Yan was like a pine tree. “Ever since arriving in Zihua Palace, I have long forgotten what life is. Life can be sold as a commodity, but it does not belong to me.”

‘”When did you find me?” Linglong retreated slightly.

Mu Qianzhi maintained his usual aloofness and aloofness. “Qian met her a few days ago when she was boating on the lake. At that time, Qian was still puzzled. How could she be the woman of that day? Qian did not believe it at all. But today, Qian had to believe her when he saw her true self.”

‘”Sir, don’t you know that everyone has a sky above their heads? Do you really think this palace wants Hou Men to be as deep as the sea? Everyone has their own difficulties. Sir, why are you so aggressive? Since Sir has already determined that this palace is the person who seeks fame and fortune from the pile of powder, then we will never see each other again when we see each other in the future?”

Mu Qianzhi angrily threw away the brush and said, “Your Highness, the one who is aggressive is clearly Your Highness …”

“I,” Linglong retreated, ready to run wildly, but was almost stopped by Mu Qianzhi.

Mu Qianzhi smiled bitterly. “Looks like Qian Qian and Your Highness have a deep affection for each other. Qian Qian should give Your Highness a painting, right?”

“I already have one. There’s no need for that for the time being.” Linglong waved her hand.

How could Mu Qianzhi give up? He said, “It’s good that you leave. I’ll finish it immediately.” After a while, he didn’t know what to draw, and then he put the whole piece of paper in the air and swayed it for a while, “One person for the rest of his life.”

On the screen, there were two people running in the opposite direction, a man and a woman. The man’s entire body was flaming red, like a heroic and fearless torch, and also like a heavy sigh. The woman was dressed in flowers and silk. The two of them were obviously not from the same class.

Linglong sprinted to the section of the Spring Wave Bridge. Qin’er glanced fiercely at Mu Qianzhi. “Sir, don’t you know that it’s too late? Don’t you know that you don’t treat the Book of Sages as indecent? Since you are deeply rooted in love, what does it matter if you don’t say it out loud?” After Qin’er finished her lesson, she waited for Mu Qianzhi to retort, but she didn’t expect Mu Qianzhi to actually lower his head. “Are you saying that I was wrong just now?”

“You’re right!” Qin’er fiercely chased after Linglong.

Linglong ran out of breath and finally arrived at Cloud Phoenix Hall.

Qin’er was also chasing after him. Suddenly, Mu Qianzhi’s voice floated over and said, “Which palace is the Empress from, so that Qian Qian can apologize?”

Qin’er did not turn her head, nor did she say a word. Linglong had already rushed into Yunluan Palace. Li Sheng did not know what had happened. She looked at Qin’er running back with her soul unguarded and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Qin’er pointed behind her and took out the painting. Sheng looked at the signature below and couldn’t help but frown.

Linglong had already adjusted her state of mind. She nodded slightly and looked at the scenery outside the window. Red and green no longer existed. There was only a deathly silent grey autumn light spreading out.

Sheng walked in and said, “What’s wrong with Your Highness?”

Qin’er couldn’t say anything, so she could only serve Linglong tea before and after. Linglong sighed, “I didn’t expect that he would be a painter in the palace.”

“Mu Qianzhi is not a painter. Your Highness doesn’t know that he is an aide to the Emperor.” Li Sheng smiled and laid the ink pill on the table.

“What? Staff?” Linglong widened her eyes. Zi Hua City was simply too foul and miasma. It was simply unbelievable to absorb all of them. In the past, Master Mo was like jade. Young Master Wu Shuang’s white-robed young master was actually a guest of honor in Zi Hua City?

Linglong was even more puzzled. Li Sheng quickly said, “Mu Qianzhi is Concubine Mude’s younger brother. This time, he must be preparing for the autumn banquet in three to five days.”

“The Emperor invited him?” Linglong found it hard to believe. This person did not look like a mastermind whose hands were stained with blood, but the reality was so tragic.

Thinking of the estrangement between her and Concubine De, Linglong felt even more guilty. Actually, she should have told Mu Qianzhi her identity back then. That time, the two of them talked about their painting skills and they talked happily. However, today, she was still an old man. Yet, her identity had changed so much that she could not cushion it in the slightest.

Mu Qianzhi held the painting in his hand and smiled bitterly at the Spring Wave Bridge. He did not expect that a peerless woman like Linglong would actually be a concubine of the Emperor. He wanted to know where Linglong lived, what grade she was at, and her background.

When Li Sheng saw the painting, he said with a little embarrassment, “Could it be that Mu Qianzhi has some indiscriminate thoughts towards the Empress? It’s better for the Empress to stay away from this person. The harem is full of eyes, ears, mouth and nose. If someone sees her, she will be in danger.”

She vaguely remembered that Mu Qianzhi had also given her a painting when she arrived at Baohua Temple last time. At this time, she waved her hand and said, “Put it together with the previous one.” Qin’er obediently went.

Linglong sighed, “I know. Thank you for your reminder, Sheng.”